09-17-13 10:23 AM - Post#782795    

I've started reading this book by Gary Mack. As some might know, I have a bit of an interest in the mental side of athletic performance. So far, it is a book that reveals things that I mostly know, but that I haven't been able to articulate very well. So its helping to ground some of my understandings. Particularly on the factor of how the fear of embarassment can affect you. I've noticed that I tend to get most, frustrated and angry, because I fear being embarrassed by a bad or stupid play. This then can affect the rest of a match/game, as I am too focused on my ego. This can keep me from taking risks, that should be taken.

This is a highly 'quotable' book, with gems such as "Most people resist making changes. They prefer to stay in a comfort zone. The paradox is that sometimes you have to get worse before you get better. It takes a leap of faith to make changes and work on weaknesses."

One part that many will notice, is that he uses some very famous athletes as examples. Unfortunately for Gary Mack, a lot of these athletes, since the release of the book, have turned out to be drug users. I wondered if it tarnishes the content, but I don't think it does. While these guys might have been 'cheating', the drugs they used wouldn't have allowed them to be as good as they were without their mental game being in tune.

Scott

12-02-13 10:54 PM - Post#788772    

Cool - I just got this on my kindle last night after re-reading the Mike Pockoski thing in volume 3 of getup - will probably get to it later this week.

12-05-13 02:48 PM - Post#789042    

Small world: the coauthor's daughter is a good friend of mine.

Daniel John Just handing down what I was handed down... Make a Difference. Live. Love. Laugh. Balance work, rest, play and pray (enjoy beauty and solitude) Sleep soundly. Drink Water. Eat veggies and protein. Walk. Wear your seat belt. Don’t smoke. Floss your teeth. Put weights overhead. Pick weights off the floor. Carry weights. Reread great books. Say thank you

Mind Gym: An Athletes Guide to Inner Excellence
12-16-13 08:20 AM - Post#789863    

I finished this last week, and enjoyed it. I could see some people complaining that: (1) everything seems pretty obvious, once you read it; and (2) that the book is really just a series of quotes from famous athletes.

But.

I liked it all the same. Sometimes there are things that you "know," but don't even really know you know until they are set down on paper in front of you. I for sure have been guilty of negative thinking in the past, particularly with things I am just starting out in or not super comfortable with. For example, my first track meet last July, all I could think about was the fact that the ring was wet and that I had never thrown off a ring with a cage around it. So all my inner talk was "don't slip, don't hit the cage." I slipped and hit the cage.

At the least, I think there are a few things that every athlete, including me, can take away from this book that will have a legitimately positive impact on performance.

And I found the quotes interesting, even if, as SB mentioned, the ones from many of the athletes quoted, including probably most prominently Alex Rodriguez, now have a slightly different context than when the book was written.



Edited by BrianBinVA on 12-16-13 08:22 AM. Reason for edit: No reason given.

12-16-13 03:49 PM - Post#789913    

I've read that book several times. And as some have said, it may seem we already knew this stuff...especially after we read the book.

I think part of the beauty of this book is:

take one chapter (they are short, about four pages or so) and focus on applying the thoughts in that chapter for a week. Work through the whole book this way. I think there are about 40 chapters in the book.

Many read the book and say, "Yeah, I know this stuff"

But do you DO it?

It's like the guy who reads a survival book and then later while sitting around a campfire states he can start a fire by twirling a stick between his hands. My first question to him is "Let's see you do it."

Reading and acknowledging is fine, doing is better, and just so you know, I'm not picking on anyone, I'm striving to do this myself.

Oh, and the hand drill fire method:

I'm practicing that one every time I finish a workout. Haven't started a fire yet (it's way harder than it looks) but I will eventually get it.